University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
South Dakota
UNI Uses Second Half Rally to Edge South Dakota
12/7/2011 1:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Mercedees Morgan led the Panthers with 18 points and six rebounds. Morgan buried four triples in the contest and blocked three Coyote shots. K.K. Armstrong scored all 14 of her points in the second half for UNI. Amber Kirschbaum recorded seven points and grabbed 13 rebounds, six of which were on the offensive end.
South Dakota (5-2) used an 11-3 run in the first half to build a 21-13 advantage with 2:51 left in the half. UNI fought back, ending the half on a 7-2 run with a three-point basket from Rachel Madrigal, and buckets from Jess McDowell and Mercedees Morgan.
The Panthers came out hot in the second half, going on a 10-3 run in the first four minutes. Morgan started the run with back to back triples to give UNI their first lead since the 13:55 mark of the first half. Morgan then hit a jumper and Sharnae Lamar scored to cap off the run, pushing the UNI lead to 30-26.
The Coyotes battled back to take the lead again at 35-34 on a basket from Amber Hegge before UNI's K.K. Armstrong took over. Armstrong made a lay-up, hit a three point jumper, got a steal and fast break lay-up, hit two free throws, and made another jumper on an 11-2 UNI run that put the Panthers in front, 45-39. South Dakota would come no closer than six points the rest of the way.
UNI won the battle of the boards as they tallied 41 rebounds to South Dakota's 36. The Panthers capitalized on 20 Coyote turnovers, turning them in to 22 points. UNI notched 11 second-chance points in the victory.
Three Coyotes were in double figures with Amber Hegge and Jodie Boss leading the way with 12 points and eight boards a-piece. Teammate Annie Roche chipped in with 11 points on the night.
With the win, UNI improves to 6-2 on the season. The Panthers will host the North Dakota State Bison in the McLeod Center on Sat. Dec. 10th. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m.
